Minister: Canada Needs More Immigrants

MONTREAL - Canada's foreign affairs minister said Thursday that the country badly needed more immigrants to replace aging workers who are headed for retirement.

Pierre Pettigrew said that increasing the population to 40 million by welcoming more immigrants would help foot the bill for new infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

"This is a vast country, the infrastructure is expensive and it's a bigger country than the United States is," Pettigrew said. "I am saying that if we were 40 million Canadians, that infrastructure would not be necessarily a lot more expensive, but we would be more (people) to foot the bill."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051014/ap_on_re_ca/canada_immigrants_needed;_ylt=Alsvm5WfZhsm2VtG65PMbfSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-
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Hmmmm....

I'd better get my visa application in, just in case the chimpeachment falls through.

Like what happened to US citizens.

I'm neither that desperate nor that stupid.

I know, there are nine other fine provinces plus some territories, but the others are just too bloody cold... but hey, hockey's back, so let's get on up there while the Timbits are hot, eh?

edit: not to mention some of B.C.'s other advantages... :smoke:

We talk about retiring there one day all the time, but I don't think they want retirees. Anybody know if Kingston has an IT industry to speak of?

If you have a needed skill, Canada will gladly lay out the welcome mat.

I was in Kingston before. I think that Queens University was there. There was a prison. I remember AJ's hangar, Stages, and the Shaker's Lounge.

..it's about 45 minutes east of Kingston...Don't know about the IT biz there though?? wish I had more info for you (actually, am from the Toronto area..parents still in Brockville)

Kingston is such a lovely city...not too big, not too small..I've always loved Kingston..not a far drive to Ottawa or Toronto (3 hours to Toronto...probably 1.5 hours to Ottawa)

Give me a break. Blatant vote buying. Someone explain to me how increasing immigration "would help foot the bill for new infrastructure, such as roads and bridges." I'd think increased immigration would strain our resources.

Canada and we DO need to increase our immigration numbers to keep up our quality of life and our social programs.

Immigrants are NOT a strain on our resources, they are a welcome addition to our resources, imo.

How does advocating for increased immigration lead to vote buying?

Does encouraging immigration get votes in Canada?

so I think the poster is trying to imply that the Liberal govt. is only advocating for increased immigration in order to stay in power.

Sid

a conservative government here! been through that agony already..so I say lettim' in!!!

I LOVE that town!!!

:toast:

:hug:

other than the cold weather seemingly year round. Most of us in this forum would be much happier there. I too looked into the Vancouver area last December.

My husband and I would like to retire there, but we heard that to become a permanent resident you must be a skilled worker, have family already there to sponsor you, or start a business. Anyone know of how to explore this?

Maybe I should start thinking seriously about emigrating.

I've looked into it a bit (just read some of the laws which seem to pertain) and come to the same conclusion that you have. Pretty much the same for New Zealand - our second choice.

Alas, after 40+ years of working, I'm in no mood to do it again.

In fact this year, since early spring, we have had hot weather right across the country...It is just starting to get fall-like now, here in Ontario....Where I live in southern Ontario, our winters are actually about comparable to Chicago...perhaps even nicer....:)

I'm farther north than you!

This perception drives me nuts. :)

that they are predicting a green christmas in the Toronto area...(which has happened before)

Chicago
New York
Detroit
Boston
Cleveland
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

We get 4 real seasons. Yes we have to rake leaves in the fall, but we also get 3 weeks of spectacular gold, red, green and yellow trees when the leaves are changin colours.

Yes we have to shovel snow for a couple of months in the winter, but we also get to make snowmen with our kids and go tobogganing and drink hot chocolate. And hot tubbing in freezing weather is an activity that everyone should try.

Yes it's hot and humid in the summer, but we also have cottages and camping and thousands of freshwater lakes within a 4 hour drive.

Some people like sunny and 75 every day. Others like variety in their weather. As the saying goes, that's why they make both vanilla and chocolate :)

Sid

$40,000 and above, and give me dual citizenship, i'm SO there.

Canada needs more immigrants on the welfare rolls like New Orleans needs another hurricane.

If we got the immigrants, and they didn't immediately sign on for the "cash for life" lottery, as it is called, then perhaps it would work, and ease the tax burden on all of us.

But they will, and it won't.

I hope they send them out to Alberta - apparently there is a great need for workers there at preseent.

But, but but they 'add to our resources'!!! look at the post above! (sarcasm).

I agree 100% with what you are saying. I am tired of paying for everyone else when I can't afford a fucking furnace, or heating oil this year. Enough is Enough. Each refugee recieves $1890 per month and if they are on welfare an additional $580 per month. I work 40+ hrs. a week at a salaried position in sales and I would gladly trade what I make per month to sit on my ass and collect what they make.

Go ahead, flame away.

Sid

and refugees, why am I NOT surprised and your biases are certainly on display. Refugees often have to depend on our social systems initially because they are leaving war torn, dangerous home countries. Most become outstanding citizens of Canada over time.

All Canadians come from immigrant stock, we are a country of immigrants, and immigrants have made Canada what it is.

and this is the welcome committee? LOL

think i doubled =D

well said :)

Being in real estate over the years, I know some amazing self-made people...they're stories of arriving here with nothing and building their life on sheer drive are very inspiring...I've never met many people sitting on their buns doing nothing (they do exist, but that exists everywhere on this earth)..it's the other that are the rule and these few who are the exception (IMO)

:hi:

Need social workers?

:-)

Also nurses, doctors, dentists and practically every other professional you could name.

Touched on moving if...

"...They are sure to keep up the fake terror alerts, those cheap magic act diversions, while all the while trying to consolidate their corrupt power. The 2006 elections will tell the tale: If, after everything we do to bring down this corrupt and evil empire, they are still in power in the Congress, it will be time to think about making some "alternative lifestyle" plans.
Like living it somewhere else."

Subway Terror Alert a Hoax? Say it Ain't So.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
http://opovet.blogspot.com/2005/10/subway-terror-alert-hoax-say-it-aint.html

Going to visit soon...can't wait! :)

By about 5 points, too.

It'd be nice to live in a country where I felt wanted. And for more than just my body... but I don't see that happening and my body is falling to pieces anyway. :grimace:

i want to move there!

O8)

They like inquisitiveness. And the ability to speak two languages. And have a good degree (I have one but it's not good enough for them :( ). Lots of other things too.

Good luck.

Cause those were two of the requirements when I last looked several months back. :(

I have a degree to finish and my grandparents are quite old and not in the best health. I would have huge problems being very far away from them, or from my mom since they are living with her.

Emigrating is a very real possibility in a few years. As the hate campaign against GLBT Americans, and pretty much everyone who is not rich, white, male, and christian continues, I feel less connected to this country. A long time ago, Malcolm X said that the south is everything below the Canadian border. He was right.

establish a business that will, at a minimum, create an employment opportunity for themselves and that will make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics in Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/business.html

so you have to sponsor a symphony orchestra or a hockey team?

Hold the elevator!

You drive down the street and every store, every business is looking for people. Granted a lot of it is minimum wage work, but store owners are telling me they can't get anybody because higher paying jobs are vacant as well.

College Student (midway through Year 2), no real work experience, limited funds.

Sure would be nice though *sigh*